343
By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, on Thursday, admitted in evidence, video clips of speeches by the Director General of Department of State Security Adeola Ajayi; Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, urging citizens to brace up and defend themselves in view of the rising wave of insecurity in the country.
The video evidence was tendered by Paul Erokoro (SAN), counsel to the detained Biafran Nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, who is being prosecuted by the Federal Government over alleged terrorism related offences.
A prosecution witness of DSS, code-named PWBBB, upon cross examination by the Federal Government lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had told the court that while the Eastern Security Network (ESN) was formed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) without any backing of the law, it’s South West counterpart, Amotekun security outfit was legally backed by law enacted through the respective Houses of Assembly of South West States.
“My lord, while the ESN is not a registered organization recognized by law, Amotekun was established following the law passed by the respective Houses of Assembly in the affected States,” the DSS witness posited.
However, in a bid to justify the formation of ESN as a security outfit established to fight insecurity in the South East region, the defence team tendered a flash drive accompanied with a certificate of compliance from the Bar.
Both the flash drive and the certificate of compliance were admitted and marked exhibits PWP and PWI respectively.
The video evidence was played in open court by the defence team, showing speeches made in public by the Director General of the DSS; Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, on the need for communities to help in the fight against insecurity.
In the short video clip, the Director General of the DSS, Ajayi, spoke on the need for communities to cooperate with security agencies in the fight against insecurity, as security agencies cannot fight criminals.
Ajayi who expressed the need for communities to rise up and defend themselves against miscreants and criminals, however insisted they must do that in collaboration with security agencies.
A video clip also showed where Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state exonerated the ESN from the killings of top politicians in Orlu, while blaming same on opposition politicians.
On his part, a clip was shown where Lt.Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, in a speech, had urged citizens to stand up and defend themselves because state actors would never save them from there killers.
Gen. Danjuma, while accusing the Armed Forces of aiding and protecting criminals noted, “if you are depending on the Armed Forces to stop the killings, you will all die one by one.”
Also, the court admitted in evidence, a certified true copy (CTC), of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution of victims of EndSARs and other Related Abuses and related matters.
The report which was tendered from the Bar by the defence team and was admitted and marked as exhibit PWUO.
Meanwhile, Justice James Omotosho has warned parties against any form of delay tactics that may be employed during the trial. “I will not entertain the usual delay tactics that you lawyers employ. This my court won’t entertain any delay tactics. Just bear in mind that I’m very serious about this.” He
noted since he has granted an accelerated trial of the case, it would be against the interest of justice to delay the trial while the defendant languishes in detention.
He therefore ordered the prosecution to close it’s case within six days baring any special circumstances.
Meantime, the judge has adjourned further trial to May 28 and 29 and June 6, 16, 18 and 19 respectively.